Page 237 – NYFA

LEGENDARY TALENT AGENT BOATY BOATWRIGHT SPEAKS AT NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY

The New York Film Academy recently welcomed ICM Talent Agent, Boaty Boatwright, to its Guest Speaker Series in New York. Moderated by producer Tova Laiter, Boatwright spoke about her career in the entertainment industry, which spans across six decades, making her one of the business’ most beloved legendary female icons.

At a young age, producer Alan Pakula and Universal, hired Boaty to cast the children in the all-time classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Mockingbird went on to win numerous Academy Awards and has been cited as one of AFI’s 100 Greatest Films. After Mockingbird, she continued to cast some of the famous films of all time such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Man Who Would be King, Fiddler on the Roof, and more.

In her career, she worked closely with legendary directors including Norman Jewison, Alan Pakula, John Huston, Sydney Pollack, Alfred Hitchcock, and Ridley Scott.

After working for years as a casting director, she moved to London and became a studio executive for Universal and Columbia. In the late 1970’s, she moved back to New York and took an executive position at FOX and MGM.

In the 1980’s, after “running out of studios to work,” she transitioned to the agency side of the business, working first for The William Morris Agency. Her client list included writers and directors such as Alan Pakula, Sidney Lumet, Michael Hoffman, Stephen Frears and notable actors, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. A few years later, she took her client list and moved to ICM, where she has been for 25 years. Her current client list includes Stephen Frears (Academy Award Nomination), Tom Hooper (Academy Award Winner), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Academy Award Winner), Jane Curtin, and Anthony McCarten (Academy Award Nomination). She also, for years, represented the late Melissa Mathison (Academy Award Nomination) whose film The BFG, directed by Steven Spielberg, was recently released in theaters.

As to how to acquire an agent of Boatwright’s status, Boatwright admitted that most agents need to see a success under a young filmmaker’s belt before they consider signing them. “Finding an agent is the hardest and most important part of the business,” she said.

The best way to go about it is to showcase your film at film festivals, especially Toronto and Sundance, and hope it is well received. When starting out in the business, it is often the writer/director’s job to be his or her own producer before gaining the attention of an agent.

The New York Film Academy thanks the charming and insightful Boaty Boatwright for sharing her stories and advice with our students. Given her experience and understanding of the business through so many decades, it is a Guest Speaker Series event that few will ever touch.

Students and Alumni Meet with Agents

As the clock struck 7:00 at the New York Film Academy Los Angeles Campus the lobby began to fill with acting students and alumni. Agents from Abrams Artists Agency, Central Artists, Daniel Hoff Agency, DDO Artists Agency, Howard Talent West, Ideal Talent Agency, LA Management, McKeon-Myones Management, Media Artists Group, Prodigy Talent, Debra Manners Talent Management, sat perched behind desks ready to take the student’s head shots and discuss their future.

Frederico Mallet a recent MFA Acting graduate attended the recent looking for commercial and theatrical representation. “I think it’s fantastic that Barbara made this happen,” said Mallet. “Because she is really great. She’s one of the finest people at NYFA. She’s at it all the time. She cares so much about us and I’m really grateful that she did this.”

The event was organized and run by Barbara Weintraub, Chair of Industry Outreach and Professional Development. She wanted to give recent and soon to be graduates an opportunity not only to network and practice pitching themselves but hopefully to land an agent and secure work.

Spring 2015 graduate, Katisha Seargent, “I graduated in May and I’ve been trying to get out there. I was doing a lot of self-submissions. I was so grateful to the school put together a program to help us get that foot in the door because it’s something we’ve been trying to do since we graduated.”

“I watched the footage that they made us shoot on our very first week at NYfA and I just compare it to where I am now and the growth is just exponential. It’s ridiculous. I learned so many things. My interpersonal communication skills rose exponentially. My confidence…it just went through the roof. I’m playing roles now that I never thought that I would do, that I didn’t think I was good at. I found out I have a comedic side. I never thought I was funny. You find out so much about yourself through this process here at NYFA.”

Acting student Owen Rousu knew he only had two minutes to impress the agents, “I have a commercial agent already so I’m looking more for theatrical. My little spiel goes, ‘Hey, I’m Owen. This is my theatrical headshot. I’m looking for theatrical representation; either a manager or an agent. I’m SAG eligible. I think what sets me apart from other actors is I spent five years in the army. I deployed twice as a US Army Ranger. So, the roles that I would go up for are usually army, marines, cops, firefighters, or the bad guy, apparently. I get a lot of villains, which actually, I love.”

When all was said and done we had several students reach back to tell us about their experience.

The meet and greet was such a great event! I got an audition for commercial representation at Daniel Hoff! Which is an agency I’ve wanted to audition for so bad!

So, thank you!

Best,
Linnea

Thank you so much for yesterday the event was great! I was already contacted by two talent agencies!

So, thank you so much! Those events must keep on going! They are of great help.

Gonzalo

Thanks for last night event!! I got contacted by DDO agency already for an interview next Thursday for possible representation!

Thanks,
Todd

The New York Film Academy would like to thank all the agencies that came to view our students and the current students and alumni who took advantage of this opportunity.

NYFA Doc Grad’s “Legacy” Wins Award at the White House

The tradition of cowboying is alive and well—in Brooklyn. In former New York Film Academy Documentary student Amy Wright‘s film, Legacy, which premiered at DOC NYC in 2015, Wright takes a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who comprise The Federation of Black Cowboys. From trail riding in Virginia, to giving riding lessons to kids back in Brooklyn, The Federation ensures that the legacy of America’s forgotten black cowboys will live on for generations to come.

This Wednesday, July 20, Wright’s film was recognized and awarded Best Short by the March on Washington Film Festival, which was held at the White House. The March on Washington FF strives to increase awareness of the events and heroes of the Civil Rights Era and inspire renewed passion for activism. The festival uses the power of film, music, and the arts to share these important stories.

“I accept this award in honor of my late grandfather, who was the inspiration for the film,” said Wright. “I’m so glad to have been able to share the legacy of black Cowboys with the world.”

In her film, Brooklyn’s own Federation of Black Cowboys ride the trails, transport inner city kids off the streets and onto horses, and work to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the forgotten 1/3 of old west cowboys who were Black. Wright shines a light on the lesser-known aspects of Black history. Her journey with the Federation of Black Cowboys, from urban Brooklyn to rural Virginia, reveals the nuanced intersection of Black culture and American iconography.

“The making of Legacy has been a whirlwind experience, from pitching it in the one year NYFA doc program to its screening today at the White House,” added Wright.

“These cowboys have character in every sense of the word, from their quiet integrity to their colorful personalities,” says Andrea Swift, Chair of the Documentary Department, New York. “Seen through the lens of Amy Wright’s camera, scions of the American West like Captain Lee, Rabbit, Momma, Bug, Magic and Mountain Man fill the screen and the imagination with an unconventional vision of life on the range—if the range was Brooklyn.”

Wright’s film is yet another shining example of the high quality, award-winning films that haven been produced with the New York Film Academy’s Documentary Program.

NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY REMEMBERS FILMMAKER AND ACTOR GARRY MARSHALL

With the passing of Hollywood’s legendary writer, director, actor and producer, Garry Marshall, the New York Film Academy remembers the kindhearted and thoughtful man who once took the time out to meet with, and inspire, our students.

GARRY MARSHALL MEMORIAM 2016

Back in June 2012, Marshall sat in on the New York Film Academy Los Angeles AFA Acting for Film class with Acting Chair, Lynda Goodfriend, who he recalled as the “spirited young chorus girl on Broadway.” Marshall would, of course, later cast her as Lori Beth on his iconic TV series, Happy Days.

While in Goodfriend’s class, Marshall graciously watched graduating students’ short films, providing them with valuable feedback on their performances.

“Garry Marshall changed the culture of America,” said Goodfriend. “He was the funniest and the kindest man in the entertainment industry. He is the only person I know who could make you laugh and cry within the same five seconds. The most important thing Garry taught me, was that it always has to be about heart. Because that’s who Garry was. For him it was about heart and making the world a better place through laughter. I am grateful for all that he did for me and he will be dearly missed.”

Marshall would later return to the Academy in August 2012, where he brought with him his film The Flamingo Kid.

Marshall talked at length about his career, and spoke affectionately about his cast on Happy Days, as well as working with his sister, Penny Marshall, on Laverne & Shirley.

When asked about his reputation for writing romantic comedies, he replied, “They call me schmaltzy. They call me sentimental. But they call me. And we do another movie.”

While we mourn the loss of the Hollywood icon, we should remember the words of wisdom he passed on to our students.

“When you’re foolish, you have to get the humor out of it. Pain plus time equals humor. I learned that from Lenny Bruce. Adversity happens. You have to decide, each one of you in the mirror, when you get whacked, do you get back up, or do you give up and go make babies?”

“Don’t quit. Life is a journey, and I’ve been doing it a while. Whining is absolutely allowed, but try to confine it to a half hour per day or you’ll drive everyone crazy.”

Thankfully, Marshall leaves us with a slew of groundbreaking and iconic TV shows and films, including Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, Mork and Mindy, Pretty Woman, Beaches, Frankie and Johnny, and many others.

16mm Camera Test at Griffith Park

As a part of Six-Week 16mm & HD New York Film Academy Filmmaking Camp our students learn how to actually shoot on film. Why, you may ask? Well, regardless of the fact that nowadays digital imaging is equivalent or maybe even surpassing the technical capabilities of film, many productions are still shot on film. This means that knowing how to work with 16mm is still a precious skill in the industry.

Recently, at a beautiful location at the Griffith Park, the students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with film for the very first time. Have a look for yourself!

MFA Cinematography Students Film Scenes for Master’s Lighting Workshop

The Fall 2015 MFA Cinematography students have just completed Master’s Lighting, one of several major workshop classes in the third semester of the MFA Cinematography program. The class was taught by instructor Tommy Maddox-Upshaw, whose recent credits include Straight Outta Compton (2nd unit DP), The Perfect Match (DP), and The Miki Howard Story (DP). He demonstrated a variety of current lighting techniques including how to approach large-scale night exteriors, the use of mixed lighting, and some new approaches to using color in a scene.

The week-long workshop began with a visit to the Cine Power & Light rental house. Students learned how to set up powerful lights including 10K tungsten fresnels, 9-light Maxi-Brutes, and 4K HMI PAR’s, carefully going over proper safety protocols for all of the equipment involved. The students were then introduced to generators, power distribution equipment, and the heavy-gauge cable needed to run power to these bigger lights.

On the second day of the workshop, the students visited Griffith Park to shoot day and night exterior setups using a range of big lighting units and a 600 amp generator. This advanced equipment gave the students the necessary power to use lights in day exterior setting, controlling contrast and balancing the sunlight. These tools also allowed them to light a large night exterior scene, mixing different colored light sources to give the scene more depth.

The class then moved to the Sybil Brand Institute, a decommissioned women’s prison where they have shot a number of films and television shows including Legally Blonde, 24, CSI: Miami, and Desperate Housewives. Students used the same lighting package to experiment with new techniques over the next two days of the workshop, shooting scenes on the Red Dragon digital cinema camera.

The workshop concluded with a Cinematography Practicum at the Sybil Brand facility. The practicum shoot was lead by instructor Gilber Shilton, whose directing credits include episodes of Law & Order, MacGyver, Beverly Hills 90210, and Quantum Leap. With guidance from his instructors, student cinematographer Jaan Utno shot a tense scene in the jail setting. The class worked together to light more than 15 shots, incorporating techniques from the previous workshop days.

Students leave the workshop with greater knowledge of how to light challenging scenes on a larger scale. Having worked with generators and power distribution systems, they will be ready to work at the high level of skill demanded by professional productions.

Finding Your Visual Identity in the Digital Age with Ralph Gibson

Each month the New York Film Academy’s various locations holds an Open House for applicants and those interested in learning more about the hands-on programs offered in each specific discipline. This past Open House at NYFA’s New York location offered an exclusive Photography Workshop with the Chair of Contemporary Photography, Ralph Gibson.

Gibson is an award-winning photographer whose awards include fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Leica Medal of Excellence, the Lucie Lifetime Award and the Silver Plumb Award. From the Beat Generation in San Francisco to the vigor of yesterday’s born-digital, cross-media creations, Gibson is that rare artist who has touched the masters of the past half century.

His intensive workshop focused on the subject of “Finding Your Visual Identity in the Digital Age.” In a rapidly evolving field, understanding the challenges of today are crucial for young photographers.

“The challenges of today for a young photographer, wanting to get his or her work out there, is the same as it has always been—the camera has to show the viewer something that he or she can’t otherwise see,” says Gibson. “I call this staying power in photography.”

Students who attended the event found Gibson’s experience and insight as a valuable guide to further their own work. Following his workshop, Gibson remained to answer questions from those in attendance.

With a variety of options available to both amateur and avid photographers alike, we encourage those interested in pursuing photography as more than just a light hobby to check out our website at www.nyfa.edu/photography-school to see which program best fits you.

Alumna Nabs Portuguese-Brazilian Award

gabriela egito — NYFA alumna, Gabby Egito, being honored with the Portuguese-Brazilian Award

NYFA alumna, Gabby Egito, was recently honored with the Portuguese-Brazilian Award, one of the most important accolades of Lusophone communities in the United States. The honorees list was handpicked by a jury committee of journalists who gathered names of the art world, entrepreneurs and notable professionals who excelled in cultural or social awareness in support of their communities in America.

Egito was recognized for her achievements as a recent Brazilian filmmaker. Her fast rise began in 2010, when she came to the U.S. to attend a NYFA 8-Week Workshop at the Los Angeles campus. In the workshop she produced a 7-minute dark comedy, Synergy, which was honored at the Awareness Film Festival, in Hollywood. This sealed her participation in the NYFA One-Year Filmmaking program under a merit-based scholarship.

During her studies at the New York Film Academy, Egito wrote and directed two other films that became festival darlings including the thriller Stuffed and the psychological drama Taken for Granted. Egito has amassed nine awards and five nominations at competitions from coast to coast: Hollywood, Las Vegas, Orlando, Atlantic City (New Jersey), Houston (Texas), Atlanta (Georgia), Cleveland (Ohio) and Muskogee (Oklahoma).

“It’s amazing to look back and realize how much I’ve achieved since I arrived in this country with two suitcases and a dream of becoming a filmmaker,” said Egito. “NYFA certainly played a decisive role in this journey, providing me the hands-on experience I needed to start off.”

Egito is now working on a long-form documentary about disparities between American and Brazilian dating. “I want to address the cultural differences I’ve been observing in the past six years living in Los Angeles,” commented Egito. “It’ll be very amusing, I promise you.”

The Portuguese-Brazilian Award, organized by Ricky Terezi, was held on July 12 at a 19th-century Norman-style castle overlooking the Hudson River, 30 miles from New York City.

NYFA News on the Scene with President Obama

Earlier this year two of our Broadcast Journalism students — Alisa Rajkitkul and Urvashi Barua — became accredited White House reporters. This means they are entitled to attend any White House media events. Last week, they traveled to Warsaw to cover President Obama’s participation in the biennial NATO heads-of-state summit.

As far as we know, they are the first student journalists ever to accompany the President on an overseas trip. The team shot stories first in Poland and then Spain, for use on NYFA News, the program the 1-year Broadcast Journalism students produce.

obama silence — President Obama meets the global media, and reacts to the tragic events in Dallas where five law enforcement officers were killed.

In addition to shooting stories for NYFA News they were also active on social media, including Snapchat. Stay tuned for more White House coverage from Urvashi and Alisa.